Wife 1996 ZJ expo rig Grand Cherokee

[elpoffroad]

Well I have owned a lot of off-road vehicles over the years, I got this one for my wife at auction beat up but running great for 800 bucks. I put a 3 in lift, bed lined the bottom panels and put some rims and tires. It isn't very fancy yet but it's slow progress. I have replaced the distributor, coil, wires and spark plugs to include pulleys and fuel pump (probably more maintenance that I've forgot). I already bought the tube to put a simple prerunner bumper with some tow points in the front plus the tube for a roof rack that will hopefully be built within a reasonable time. I have another 5 off-road projects going on simultaneously so they all get a Bit of love a bit at a time. Here is some pictures of the grand cherokee 1996. It's a 4.0 with 130k with stock axle but already have a front locker waiting to go in the Dana 30 front. she is a cosmetologist if your wondering about the sticker. Going to install some led's soon on it too I'm excited for it to be completed and continue working on it

 

[lumpskie]

Nice find! It looks like it's in pretty good shape. Those ZJs are getting rarer and rarer.

 

[elpoffroad]

Yeah it's in pretty decent shape. They are very capable off-road vehicles and has a known to be reliable motor. A plus is that it's more comfortable than my old Cherokee. I'm saving to buy a tube bender to start on the bumper and roof rack.

 

[elpoffroad]

Man put some new maxis bighorns on it and wow did it make a difference. I will be taking the jeep out today to an event at the local off-road park.im hoping at also putting an ARB awning on both this jeep and my excursion soon. and for camping the enclosed room since a rtt is out of the question right now.
Also anyone know if the stock swing out tire carrier will stand the weight of a 31 in tire.? I found one at a junk yard and I was curious if it was worth the hassle.

 

[elpoffroad]

Well have been in the desert a lot with the jeep. Added some 31x10.50x15 maxxis bighorns and found a orvis edition jeep at junkyard so I got the front hooks and going back for the skid plates next weekend. Having fun with it it will make a trip to the lake before winter hits.

 

[Cottontail]

They never made a stock swing out for the ZJ. Are you trying to modify an XJ one?

 

[OIIIIO]

Good luck with the ZJ. Love mine.

O.

 

[elpoffroad]

Hmm I saw a zj with a spare tire carrier at the junk yard. It looked just like an xj's swing tire carrier so it made me curious. I might see if I can pick up and xj one and modify it to get the spare out of the hatch area. I love this ZJ but i did break a lower control arm mount on the axle so I will be ordering heavy duty mounts to replace that weakness.:sombrero:

 

[K2ZJ]

They never made a stock swing out for the ZJ. Are you trying to modify an XJ one?

There was a Mopar version. https://www.flickr.com/photos/40109258@N04/sets/72157624279263499/

1998 ZJ WITH SWING OUT TIRE CARRIER
by Larry James, on Flickr

1998 ZJ WITH SWING OUT TIRE CARRIER
by Larry James, on Flickr

 

[elpoffroad]

That is exactly the one that is on the grand Cherokee at the junkyard

 

[OIIIIO]

Just bumping this thread to see ZJs on top.

 

[Cottontail]

Interesting. Must have been a dealer add on from the MOPAR "bolt on book" of aftermarket goodies. I've never seen one. It looks like it kills your departure angle, sitting well below the bumper.

 

[elpoffroad]

Interesting. Must have been a dealer add on from the MOPAR "bolt on book" of aftermarket goodies. I've never seen one. It looks like it kills your departure angle, sitting well below the bumper.

It does hang off the bottom quite a bit so I am going to take the idea and make my own,see if it holds up. They wanted to much at the junkyard for it. Im finally got to notch the tubing for the front bumper so once I get my welder back today I will tack it and mock it up see how it goes.

 

[elpoffroad]

Well around 3 weeks ago now the zj got totaled. A guy ram a stop sign and t-boned the jeep then slanmed me up against some palm trees and an assortment of things. Had so many plans and so many parts but he has left us. We did replace it with WJ that im in processes of planning out what route we are going to go with it.